Chapter Summaries

Edward explained the danger of being drawn into Groselle's Travels and arranged for Audrey to find him if he disappeared. He then signed a contract with Akasha to help hunt a wounded Marauder demigod, and Akasha planned to investigate the demigod's apprentice and possible animal hosts.

• Edward told Audrey that possessing Groselle's Travels too long could pull him inside, and explained how she could enter to find him.
• Edward advised Audrey to keep the Psychology Alchemists in consideration and reminded her to pray to Mr. Fool about Sequence 6 ingredients.
• Edward visited Akasha's private bathhouse and signed the contract that bound him to help her avenge the Sanguine blood feud.
• Edward told Akasha the wounded Marauder demigod had been sealed in the sewers near Böklund Street and might have parasitized another creature.
• Akasha decided to investigate Hazel Macht, the demigod's apprentice, while Edward suggested searching among nearby rats, cats, and dogs.

Edward met Bernadette at Akasha’s hot spring establishment and discussed the dangers of the Spectator Pathway after telling her about a Mind Dragon’s offer. Bernadette warned that the dragon might have subtly hypnotized Edward and Audrey, and that the influence could spread through Mental Plague.

• Akasha teased Edward as she escorted him through the hot spring corridor, where he unexpectedly ran into Bernadette.
• Bernadette invited Edward into her private hot spring room and asked him to tell a story about water.
• Edward told her “The Woodcutter and the River God” and explained that in the Beyonder world he would avoid the danger rather than trust the river god’s offer.
• Edward asked Bernadette to help purchase ingredients for Audrey’s Spectator Pathway formulas and described his encounter with an ancient Mind Dragon.
• Bernadette warned that the Mind Dragon might have subtly hypnotized Edward and Audrey, then explained that Mental Plague could spread the tendency to overlook hypnosis to others.

Edward learned that an Ancient Dragon’s hypnosis still affected him, tested the Picture Frame’s Painting World with Bernadette, and heard her mourn Bornova’s lost humanity. Meanwhile, Flora Jacob persuaded Hazel to help her flee after becoming afraid that Edward would hunt her down.

• Bernadette told Edward that an Ancient Dragon’s hypnosis and Psychological Suggestion still affected him, then tested the Picture Frame’s Painting World with him.
• Bernadette’s Spear of Longinus shattered the Painting World at full power, though she said most Half-Gods likely could not break it.
• Bernadette told Edward that Bornova had returned to Intis and lamented that her younger brother had died long ago.
• Flora Jacob warned Hazel that an ominous premonition meant she had to leave, and Hazel offered to take her to the family’s manor outside Backlund.
• Flora falsely told Hazel that Edward was an evil and dangerous man who had driven her into a rat, and Hazel resolved to trust her teacher.

Edward, Akasha, and Pallez trapped Flora Jacob in Edward’s Painting World and fought to stop her escape. Edward’s amplified attacks and Akasha’s Blood Moon Arrow left Flora with a fatal wound.

• Edward told Lilith he was going to avenge her, then left to hunt the Marauder Half-God with Akasha and Pallez.
• Edward and Pallez met at Leonard’s home, and Pallez agreed to join the hunt.
• Flora Jacob sensed danger in the wine cellar at Elk Manor and tried to escape by taking control of the rats.
• Edward pulled Flora into his Painting World, where Akasha and Edward attacked while Flora used Theft to evade them.
• Edward turned Flora into wood for a moment, allowing Akasha’s Blood Moon Arrow to pierce her, then amplified the wound and distorted it into a fatal injury.

Edward and Akasha survived Flora’s deadly loss of control when Leonard and Pallez intervened, while Hazel sensed that something terrible had happened. Elsewhere, Fors sought the Fool’s advice about Lawrence’s legacy, and One-Eyed Kedge found the harbor crew dead, leaving him and his men fearing Baelen’s retaliation.

• Flora entered her Mythical Creature Form and attacked, but Leonard and Pallez suppressed her and destroyed her inside the Carved Stone Wall Clock; Edward recovered his stolen belongings and escaped, while Akasha departed as moonlight.
• A monocled postman sensed he had missed an interesting event, and Hazel woke with a pounding heart beneath unusually crimson moonlight.
• Fors told the Fool about Lawrence’s will and the notebook, then decided to travel to Pritz Harbor after the Fool advised her to follow her heart.
• One-Eyed Kedge and his four companions encountered a woman in black and her cat, who let them go after briefly leaving them unable to breathe.
• Kedge’s group reached Baelen’s abandoned harbor and found the ship’s crew dead, most killed while fighting one another; Kedge decided they could not return to their bar for fear of retaliation.

Edward and his allies defeated a Marauder Half-God, and Edward reported the outcome to Akasha while arranging possible help for her revenge against Kalaman. He returned home to Lilith, who thanked him for avenging her.

• Ketch and his companions found enslaved men, women, and children hidden aboard the ship and freed them after leaving the hold open.
• Edward met Leonard and relayed Pallez’s thanks, then learned Pallez might help Akasha take revenge on Kalaman if he had recovered by then.
• Edward told Akasha about Pallez’s offer, gave her a list of materials to obtain, and offered to sell her a Suitcase with a Stored Beyonder Characteristic.
• Akasha considered buying the Suitcase and decided she might sell Rallard’s unused suits to raise the money.
• Edward returned to the villa and told Lilith that he had gotten revenge for her, and she thanked him.

Edward reflected on the threat posed by Amon and gathered leads on ingredients and a Shepherd characteristic while arranging help for Doctor Aaron’s young patient. He joined Mr. A near East Tuck County to meet Miss D, whose arrival could threaten Mr. A’s plans, and the chapter ended as Mr. A handed Edward a train ticket.

• Edward told Audrey about the previous night’s events and received news that Renette Tofinix had delivered a Spirit World Traverser corpse and that Miss D was arriving in Backlund.
• Bernadette informed Edward that she could obtain several requested ingredients, including a Shepherd Beyonder Characteristic, though it would take time.
• Edward asked Lilith to have Audrey send ice cream to Doctor Aaron’s house, then went to Mr. A’s residence.
• Mr. A told Edward he planned to assess Miss D and might cause a train derailment to kill her if she interfered with his plans.
• Edward used Phoenix to reach Mr. A near East Tuck County, where Mr. A explained that the new Miss D had replaced the slain Madam D.
• When Miss D’s train approached, Mr. A gave Edward a ticket and directed him to East Tuck County Station.

Edward discovered that Miss D was Priscilla, whose body Medici controlled, as Medici took command of the Aurora Order in Backlund from Mr. A. After Mr. A left, Edward questioned Medici about his plans to save himself, but Medici refused to explain.

• Mr. A met Miss D on the train, where she ordered him to halt all Aurora Order operations in Backlund, including the Lord's Descent Operation.
• Miss D threatened Mr. A and revealed that she was Priscilla under Medici's control; Edward moved to her side and explained that she was his younger sister.
• Mr. A accepted Miss D's authority over the Aurora Order in Backlund and returned through the Spirit World.
• Medici teased Mr. A before Priscilla regained control, and Edward sat beside her and asked why she had not told him about becoming an Oracle.
• Edward asked Medici what he hoped to achieve, and Medici said he was trying to save himself but kept his plans secret.

Edward obtained a Shepherd Beyonder characteristic from Priscilla and planned to use it to advance to Sequence 5, while negotiating with Medici over the Conqueror characteristics. In Pritz Harbor, Fors reunited with Xio and went to find Dorian Gray, but learned he had left the office and might be at home.

• Edward deduced that Medici was pursuing a Conqueror characteristic and offered to reveal another characteristic’s location if Medici obtained it.
• Priscilla gave Edward the Shepherd Beyonder characteristic, and Edward recognized it as what he needed to advance to Sequence 5.
• Fors arrived in Pritz Harbor, where Xio explained that officials were searching for smugglers after a ship’s crew had been killed.
• Fors told Xio she had come to return Mr. Lawrence’s belongings to Dorian Gray, and Xio agreed to accompany her.
• Fors and Xio found Dorian’s empty office, and a neighboring employee said Dorian had left and might have gone home.

Fors and Xio searched for Dorian Gray in Pritz Harbor, while Klein considered links between missing slaves and illegal immigrants. In Backlund, Medici began revising the True Creator’s plans, and Edward drank the prepared Traveler potion, sensing that he could travel to his four Special Coordinates in spirit form.

• Fors and Xio found Dorian Gray’s home, learned he had left on a long journey, and Fors left him a note before spotting a man she recognized from the Tarot Club’s bounty.
• Klein received Fors’s prayer, passed her sighting of Baelen to the Hanged Man, and wondered whether missing slaves, illegal immigrants, and Cynthia’s disappearance were connected.
• Medici arrived in Backlund with Priscilla and told Mr. A to arrange a meeting with the Aurora Order’s leaders, while hinting that he intended to disrupt the True Creator’s plans.
• Edward combined the Traveler potion with the Shepherd Beyonder Characteristic and drank it as Audrey, Lilith, and Susie watched.
• Edward’s spirit traveled through several places and returned to the starry expanse, where he sensed he could reach any of his four Special Coordinates in spirit form.

Edward opened the door in the void and met Bethel Abraham, who revealed that the Door Pathway’s Uniqueness was imprinted within Edward. Their conversation left Edward wondering how the Uniqueness reached him and what Adam or the True Creator had planned.

• Edward pushed the door fully open, crossed into another starry sky, and saw a blood-red moon before Mr. Door appeared.
• Mr. Door identified himself as Bethel Abraham and explained that he had expected Adam or the True Creator to visit him.
• Mr. Door recognized the Door Pathway’s Uniqueness within Edward, and Edward connected it to his strange journey and repeated encounters with Beyonders.
• Edward realized that his possession of the Uniqueness could prevent Mr. Door, Amon, or Klein from completing their paths to godhood.
• Mr. Door said Adam or the True Creator had taken the Uniqueness in exchange for reducing his corruption, and confirmed that his visitor had been rational.

Edward met Mr. Door, who asked him to help remove the Outer Deity’s corruption and get him home, then returned to the starry sky and advanced to Sequence 5 Wandering Mentor. After reviewing his new abilities and the dangerous Sequence 4 ritual, Edward reassured Lilith and Audrey and discovered that he had digested nearly a third of the Wandering Mentor Potion.

• Mr. Door told Edward that Adam had promised to free him from the Outer Deity’s corruption and send him home, and he asked Edward to help when they met again.
• Mr. Door told Edward to seek out the Abraham descendants for the Door Pathway formulas before the light door expelled Edward back into the starry sky.
• Edward successfully advanced to Sequence 5 Wandering Mentor and learned his new abilities and the Sequence 4 Spirit Mage ingredients and ritual.
• Edward used Delusion to borrow the Yazi ability, which could negate corruption and reflect it back at twice its strength.
• Lilith and Audrey checked on Edward, and he explained that the Spirit Mage ritual required his body to be destroyed while his soul remained intact.
• Edward discovered that his Traveler Potion was fully digested and that nearly a third of his Wandering Mentor Potion had been digested.

Edward considered how to digest his Wandering Mentor potion and planned to travel while teaching, while Derrick and Lovia returned to the City of Silver with concerns about the expedition party. At Saint Samuel Cathedral, Edward learned that the Evernight Goddess had already given his books to Stiano, but She told him he still had a chance to impart knowledge himself.

• Edward discussed wandering and teaching with Audrey, who asked when he would set off, and he told her that Queen Mystic had found several ingredients for her potion formulas.
• After Audrey and Susie left, Lilith accused Edward of acting guilty and bit his ear before he threatened to test her studies.
• Derrick returned to the City of Silver with Lovia and the expedition party, but Lovia stopped him from warning Chief Colin Iliad that the others had been corrupted.
• At Saint Samuel Cathedral, Edward asked the Evernight Goddess whether he could offer his books and technologies to the God of Steam and Machinery, and She told him they had already been given to Stiano.
• Edward explained that he needed to impart knowledge for his acting, and the Evernight Goddess told him he still had a chance.

Edward planned a westward journey through Feynapotter, Lenburg, and Intis, while Audrey arranged for him to become a professor at Backlund University of Technology. When Klein visited, Edward suggested asking the sentient mirror Arrodes for advice about whether Klein should see Benson and Melissa, and the three went to the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery to meet it.

• Audrey told Edward she had arranged a professor identity for him at Backlund University of Technology, and he described his planned route through Feynapotter, Lenburg, and Intis.
• Klein visited Edward and explained that he had not decided whether to return to see Benson and Melissa because his intuition warned him against it.
• Edward suggested that Klein consult Arrodes, a sentient Sealed Artifact that claimed to answer any question.
• Audrey joined Edward and Klein as they went to Saint Hillan Church to see Arrodes.
• Arrodes greeted the three with colorful fireworks and playful words.

Klein questioned Arrodes about visiting Benson and Melissa, while Audrey and Edward also sought information from the mirror. Afterward, Klein decided to return to Tingen, and Edward offered to go with him and urged him to consider making his siblings Beyonders.

• Arrodes advised Klein that he could visit Benson and Melissa but should not get too close to them, then revealed that Sherlock Moriarty was not his real name.
• Audrey asked where to find a hallucinatory wind chime tree and learned its location, then answered Arrodes's question by choosing Edward over Klein.
• Edward asked where to obtain an Undying Beyonder Characteristic and learned that Feathered Serpents were held by the Eggers Family and could be traced through a pirate ship.
• Edward told Audrey and Klein that Arrodes might be responding to traces of the gray fog connected to the Tarot Club and Mr. Fool.
• Klein said he felt lost and planned to visit Tingen, while Edward offered to accompany him and urged him to consider making Benson and Melissa Beyonders.

Edward began volunteering at an impoverished East Borough free school while Klein investigated disappearances connected to suspected human trafficking. The chapter left Edward preparing to teach, with the school’s students arriving for evening lessons.

• Audrey asked Edward about his complicated attitude toward Mr. World, and Edward explained that Klein would face the Apocalypse alone unless others helped him.
• Klein asked Old Kohler to investigate disappearances and learned that Liv’s younger daughter, Daisy, had gone missing.
• Edward sought a Beyonder Characteristic for his advancement but focused on digesting his potion by volunteering as a teacher at an East Borough free school.
• Edward learned that the school had lost most of its funding after its administrators abused the system, then heard that Daisy was missing and went home to fetch Lilith.
• Lilith told Edward she had nearly finished digesting her potion by instigating bad people, and Edward promised to take her out to sea the next day.
• Students began arriving at the free school that evening and quietly reviewed their notes despite the teachers’ absence.

Edward observed the student-tutoring classes and began helping the children, while Klein raided Capim’s villa, freed the kidnapped girls, and investigated Capim’s connection to Cynthia. Capim revealed that he had sent Cynthia to the trafficker Baelen and had handed him several thousand people, leaving Klein to question the scale of the trafficking.

• Edward learned the teaching procedures from Lyle, then visited classrooms and answered the students’ questions.
• Klein entered Capim’s villa, killed two bodyguards, freed Daisy and the other imprisoned girls, and left tarot cards at Capim’s corpse.
• Two powerful Beyonders confronted Klein’s Black Emperor guise at the villa, but he escaped by teleporting after stealing one man’s intention to prohibit it.
• Above the gray fog, Klein learned from Capim’s spirit that Baelen had received Cynthia after she escaped and had recently found traces of her.
• Capim told Klein that Baelen frequented the Lime Bar and that he had handed him several thousand people, prompting Klein to ask whether they were all kidnapped from East Borough and Harbor Borough.

Edward took Capim’s money after Klein’s escape and helped amplify the Phantom Thief Black Emperor’s performance, while Klein noticed a major leap in his Magician potion digestion. Audrey learned that Capim had been killed and that the Tower and Justice cards had been left at the scene; Edward confirmed his involvement but said he had not killed Capim.

• Klein reflected on the kidnapped people and human trafficking, then returned to the real world and was surprised by how much his Magician potion had digested.
• Edward took nearly ten thousand Pounds from Capim’s safe and, disguised as the Black Emperor, provoked two Half-Gods to help Klein’s potion digestion.
• Edward tested teaching at the free school as a way to digest his own potion and told Lilith he would wait for word from Bernadette before leaving.
• Earl Hall told Audrey that Capim had been killed and that the Tower and Justice tarot cards had been left in his emptied safe.
• Audrey visited Edward with the newspaper, and he admitted taking part in the incident but said he had not killed Capim.

Edward discussed the theft from Capim’s safe with Audrey, then learned the papers had falsely tied the robbery to Mr. Fool’s Blessed. After supporting a free school and meeting Bernadette, he asked whether he should leave Backlund, and she warned that the catastrophe was very close.

• Audrey learned that Mr. Fool’s Blessed had killed Capim while Edward had taken the money from his safe, and she planned to ask Mr. Fool to convey her respect.
• Klein read the report about Capim’s safe and the Tower and Justice cards, suspected Edward and Audrey, and set out to find Baelen before reporting to Prince Edessak.
• Xio urged Fors to open Mr. Lawrence’s letter because it might lead to Apprentice formulas, but Fors put off the decision to buy cigarettes.
• Edward donated food and promised monthly support to the free school, where Daisy and the other children received a lavish dinner.
• Bernadette told Edward that his teaching could count as acting and, after trying to glimpse the future, warned him that Backlund’s catastrophe was very close.

Edward persuaded Bernadette to travel with him and urged Audrey’s family to leave Backlund before the looming catastrophe. As smog spread over the city, Edward went to find Klein and noticed someone watching Minsk Street.

• Bernadette agreed to travel with Edward, asking him to tell her stories and teach her Roselle’s language along the way.
• Edward realized he could protect his friends by helping them leave Backlund, and he summoned Phoenix to act on the idea.
• Edward convinced Audrey to ask Earl Hall to take the family out of Backlund, and Earl agreed while instructing Hibbert to finish preparations and then put his work on hold.
• On Friday, Edward and Lilith set out to find Klein on Minsk Street as smog shrouded Backlund.
• Lilith sensed someone watching them, and Edward spotted a boy in a bowler hat hiding near 13 Minsk Street.